April 6, 2025: Ahead of the much-anticipated IPL 2025 clash between Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) and Gujarat Titans (GT), GT pacer Mohammed Siraj shared his excitement about playing in front of his home crowd in Hyderabad, where his cricketing journey began.
Siraj, who hails from Hyderabad, expressed how special it feels to return to his hometown for a match. Speaking in a video shared on the IPL’s official platform, he said, “Hyderabad is my home. I have been born and brought up here. Whenever I come here, it feels like home, my family and friends will come. When I play in front of the Hyderabad crowd, I get really excited.”
SRH has had a tough start to their IPL 2025 campaign, currently languishing at the bottom of the points table after a series of losses, including three consecutive defeats following a win over Rajasthan Royals (RR). On the other hand, GT, with two wins and a loss, is placed third in the points table. Siraj, who has been in good form, has taken five wickets in three games at an average of 21.40, with his best performance being 3/19 against Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
When asked about his approach to the game, Siraj explained, “My aim is when I come to the ground, my focus is on the ball for those 120 balls. Ball by ball.” He also discussed the challenge posed by SRH’s formidable batting lineup, which includes aggressive hitters like Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, and Ishan Kishan at the top, followed by the experienced Heinrich Klaasen and others in the middle order. Siraj acknowledged, “SRH’s batting lineup is very great. They have attacking batters, and we must be clear about the plans. We are ready and excited for the battle.”
On the strengths of the GT team, Siraj highlighted the balance in their squad, with the leadership of Shubman Gill, the explosive power of Jos Buttler, and the mystery of Rashid Khan’s spin. He emphasized that GT’s solid combination gives them the flexibility and confidence to compete in every match.
The upcoming match between SRH and GT promises to be an exciting contest, with both teams eager to secure a win. Siraj’s return to Hyderabad adds an emotional touch to the match, and fans can expect a thrilling encounter as these two teams go head-to-head in IPL 2025.
Squads:
Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH)
Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Kamindu Mendis, Heinrich Klaasen (w), Aniket Verma, Pat Cummins (c), Harshal Patel, Simarjeet Singh, Mohammed Shami, Zeeshan Ansari, Abhinav Manohar, Wiaan Mulder, Jaydev Unadkat, Rahul Chahar, Adam Zampa, Atharva Taide, Eshan Malinga, Sachin Baby
Gujarat Titans (GT)
Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill (c), Jos Buttler (w), Sherfane Rutherford, Shahrukh Khan, Rahul Tewatia, Arshad Khan, Rashid Khan, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Ishant Sharma, Glenn Phillips, Anuj Rawat, Mahipal Lomror, Washington Sundar, Jayant Yadav, Karim Janat, Kulwant Khejroliya, Gerald Coetzee, Manav Suthar, Kumar Kushagra, Gurnoor Brar, Nishant Sindhu